Tag Archives: fear

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body;

and be thankful.

Col. 3:15 NKJV

It was a quiet morning until suddenly, the wind slammed into the house with great force. Things began creaking and banging about. There had been tornados several days ago so I checked my phone. No threats were reported, but we were in store for storms and high winds.

We should always be on the alert for severe weather. We also need to be watchful for storms in our lives. They show up without warning. However, we can be attentive without being anxious.

We are commanded to let peace rule in our hearts. God knew our first response would be to let something else take charge. Something such as panic or fear.

Wasn’t peace a gift from Jesus? “My peace I give to you,” (John 14:27b). Isn’t peace a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22)? Yes and yes, but we are commanded not to put that gift up on a shelf like a forgotten Christmas present. We open it. We treasure it. Then up it goes, and we forget it is there.

Peace isn’t ruling in our hearts. The storms blow in and we have to search for our peace. In Lisa Murray’s book, “Peace for a Lifetime”, she writes, “Peace is not a feeling. Peace is a way of life”. Lisa explains that we need to care for our emotional wellness just as we care for our physical health. She suggests a daily quiet time, just God and me. It is a time to reflect on our thoughts and reactions.

I could use some solitude. Some time to hear the still small voice of God. Peace must rule in my heart. The next time the winds howl, I won’t have to search for it. Peace will be in charge.

Father God,

Thank You for Your gift of peace. I am sorry I often misplace it, running to You shrieking for help. Your peace is here all along. Speak peace to my heart as I quietly listen today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

When people speak to me (or any visually impaired person), I either respond cheerfully because I recognize the voice, Or I sound hesitant because I am uncertain whose voice it is. Discerning the voice of God isn’t easy. Many years passed after God saved me before I recognized His voice, in particular that still small voice.

But when Satan speaks, we usually hear him loud and clear. He vocalizes the fears and concerns we are fighting to overcome. He appeals to the old man, our flesh. In order to adhear to the correct voice, we need to follow the advice of James.

Submit to God. Obey God. Listen to God. A week prior to my Gatlinburg trip, I distinctly heard from the Lord. Empty myself. Fill up on God, and then begin writing. I bubbled with excitement about what God had in store for me on my writing retreat.

But when we arrived at the hotel, I began drowning in despair. The desk clerk alerted us to the park rangers who were tranquilizing the bears there. What? Iva and I had a bear encounter last year, but we were trusting God for our safety.

I unpacked as I debated on going home with my husband and forfeiting my time with God.

We went to get groceries, but I chose to wait in the car with Iva. In a dark parking lot, I found verses about fear and protection on my phone. While my hubby shopped, I spoke verse after verse over myself. Peace began to chase panic away. I called a friend who prayed Scripture over me.

When hubby opened the car door, I heard a tree frog. That was God’s exclamation point. The song of one tree frog had comforted me my first night at guide dog school in New York. Now, it consoled me here, especially when I heard some outside my mountain hotel room.

Speaking the Word of God and the Lord’s encouragement, I resisted the devil. If I had left, I would have defied God rather than being submissive.

For ten days, bears roamed, but we avoided them. God surrounded us with an army of angels.

Can you distinguish the voice of God? Which voice do you listen to? The voice of faith or the voice of fear. The voice of peace or the voice of panic.

As you pray, lean in to learn the voice of God. Intimacy with God resists intimidation from Satan. Then the enemy will flee.